2012 Honda Ridgeline Preview (video)

With the swan song of the Dodge Dakota last year, Ridgeline competes with the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. The Ridgeline has always stood out more for distinctive styling and more car-like comfort and handling than work-truck performance, although it can tow up to 2,267 kg (5,000 lb) and has a half-ton payload rating. The Ridgeline still comes in just one body style: four doors, five seats.

Its five-foot-long composite cargo bed features no delineation from the cabin, for a look that’s about as sleek as a pickup truck gets. The dual-action tailgate opens down or to the side, for easy access to the 240.7-litre In-Bed Trunk.

Unibody architecture contributes to superior ride and handling, as well as spacious interior dimensions with a midsize footprint. A storage area under the back seat can hold a golf bag, or the rear seating can be lifted up to provide still more storage.

All are powered by a 3.5L, 250-hp VTEC V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control; a fully automatic four-wheel-drive system distributes torque to all four wheels as needed.